Reviews

Murder Theory by Andrew Mayne

valb13's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

lita2013's review

4.0

The end made this a four star

Narrator does a hell of a job. This story seemed to be anticlimactic, and i still believe it was, but the outcome at the end lifted it some. Although it was the focal point in which i based and changed my opinion of this story on, the endgame was a matter of when, not if. Also, I'm watching in real time the change in Theo and i feel conflicted about it all.

canada_matt's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

To call Andrew Mayne one of the most engrossing thriller writers that I have read would not be a leap. He is not only easy to comprehend, but his versatility makes for an exciting adventure each time I get my hands on another of his publications. This series, in particular, has come up with some of the most thought-provoking thriller reads that I have found in longer than I can remember. Mayne’s unique situations and captivating protagonist, Theo Cray, create a new layer of intrigue that keeps getting better the more I read. Cray has settled down a little, working in a lab. He’s been contracted by the Department of Defence to handle some analytics and seems in his element. However, something’s going on at the scene of the Toy Man’s burial ground, a serial killer Cray helped uncover. While some feel that it is just an anomaly, the FBI calls on Cray to investigate. He finds a chilling pattern and soon realises that someone is out there, not a serial killer in the traditional sense, but rather someone who is creating them before they are unleashed on the world. A stunning piece that leaves the reader gasping for breath by the end, with a cliffhanger like no other. This is Mayne at his best, full stop!

Theo Cray is a talented computational biologist, studying the systems in which things live and finding patterns to describe actions. He’s also been able to use this background to bring down two stunning serial killers, both of whom eluded the authorities with their conniving ways. After having set up a lab in Austin, Texas, Cray has a team and they are synthesising data, including a fairly hefty program for the Department of Defence (DoD). It’s a great deal of work, but Cray has the support he needs and even a lab manager who seems capable. 

When news comes to him that there is something taking place at the burial site of the Toy Man, the second of the aforementioned killers, Cray is intrigued. A forensic technician was collecting samples and seemingly had a psychotic break, killing those around him. While he is in custody, the oddity of the action baffles everyone, as the technician was known to be docile. Cray is called in by the FBI to have a look, as nothing is adding up. While it baffles Cray as well, there’s surely something there to be found, given a little time and some analysis.

Cray digs deeper, only to discover that there is something on the medical scans that appears troubling. Could those who killed have been infected with something that pushed them in that direction? While Cray has seen it in the insect world, there’s nothing documented about a neurological toxin that turns a human into a killing machine, or is there?

Someone is out there and it is up to Cray to coax them out of the shadows, if only to determine who they could be. Coining the term ‘Hyde virus’ to denote the flip side personality that emerges, Cray seeks to determine its origin. Cray decides to take the giant leap and create his own murder scene to lure the ‘killer’ out to see what happens. All the while, he is bound and determined to see what is being used to infect the brain. It’s a risky move, as the authorities are sure that there is a new killer on the loose, with a pile of bodies that Cray has left out. Shoddy prep work points to someone having provided Cray with the materials, leaving him in trouble with the law and facing potential jail time. Still, he must get to the bottom of this before it’s too late.

Working every angle he can, Cray finds something in the DoD files that could help him better understand the Hyde virus, but it will take more than dusty reports on yellowing pages to catch this serial killer creator, negating the neurological blowback and the additional fallout. This may be the largest case ever for Cray, who once considered himself a humble introvert with a side of arrogance. This is a chilling novel, though even that seems to be an understatement, particularly when referring to the final few paragraphs of this book, which offer up a cliffhanger like no other.

I have never read an Andrew Mayne novel and felt underwhelmed or anything bordering on indifferent. There is so much to absorb in each book that the reader takes something away. Add to that, the completely different path each series follows and the reader is treated to something even more stunning. I kick myself for having waited this long to discover Mayne’s work, after a few great friends have been hinting that I need to give his books a chance. The Theo Cray series alone has pushed me to my limits and keeps me enthralled throughout each piece. I can only wonder what the next book will bring.

Theo Cray remains unique while also growing on the reader in this series. Having almost fallen in to the world of serial killer hunter, Cray uses his academic background to find things that are elusive to many others. His work in Montana and Atlanta returns throughout this book, at least in passing mention, while he discovers nuances and clues that point in a particular direction. Mayne has not only honed his protagonist’s skills, but also given him a complex personality, which is on offer throughout. Building his professional and personal lives in tandem, the reader is able to see a fully three dimensional character who springs from the page with ease, something that few series can do so readily in a supersaturated genre.

The secondary characters in Andrew Mayne’s novels are not simply window dressing, as this series proves repeatedly. Like an errant fibre or piece of blood spatter in most novels, everything (and everyone) serves a purpose. The larger narrative is enriched and flavoured by those who grace the pages of this book, some complementing the protagonist, while others seek to impede progress. Either way, it is a wonderful experience and adds significantly to the novel’s connectivity. There is so much going on, but it never feels tangential and useless, as Mayne spins a web that is only later fully revealed and understood. I cannot wait to see what awaits the series, as there is something brewing, even amongst the secondary cast of characters.

Andrew Mayne is one of the great crime thriller storytellers, hands down. While he may not create eerie killers who sit in their homes plotting and using their own narrative perspective to add chills, there is definitively something to be said about how he constructs his novels. The stories build off one another (so I will bluntly say, ‘yes, you have to read the novels in order and from the beginning in this series’) and the action ramps up with each chapter. Theo Cray gets better the more the reader discovers and the narrative pushes him to the limits throughout. All that being said, there is a sense of realism throughout that keeps the reader from feeling things are getting too far off track. All this could happen and yet it is also so mind boggling. Crisp writing in short chapters keeps the reader forging ahead and the twists begin to pile up. The story has layers like no other and I cannot say enough about the momentum the plot injects into each page. This is surely not a book for those seeking a quick read that will soon be forgotten. Mayne’s pieces are like ear wigs that stick with you, but that’s a good thing, as you need to remember what’s happened to see where the path leads next.

With one more novel in this series (to date) and an upcoming publication including Cray and Jessica Blackwood together, fans of Mayne’s work have much in which to revel. Stellar writing has never been so addictive and I can only hope others discover Mayne soon, as I would love to dissect his work with other newbies and long-time fans!

Kudos, Mr. Mayne, for another wonderful piece. You never cease to amaze me with what you have to say about the world through your writing. I can definitely see a fan base growing exponentially if your writing continues to be as strong.

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anjana's review

4.0

https://superfluousreading.wordpress.com/2019/04/08/murder-theory-the-naturalist-3-by-andrew-mayne

virginiareads's review against another edition

3.0

This book reads as a standalone but refers sufficiently to prior books so the reader knows what has happened earlier. This was a weird read for me because I wanted to know what was going to happen next but I didn't really care about Theo or what happened to him. He's a loose cannon, so it's basically a story about a psycho chasing a psycho. His girlfriend should move on or he should get some serious help. Also, I almost broke my eyes rolling them at the ending.

I won this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway.

besolfulliving's review

4.0

3.5-4 stars

Now what?!?! That ending! Ha! I’m honestly surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed this series. Theo Cray, for lack of a better word, is crazy. His no holds barred mentality gets him into trouble and while everything about these books feels incredibly far fetched, I am so entertained by them! I like the author’s writing style and fast paced chapters, I love the quirky, nerdy characters, and the mystery behind all of it.

booksrbrainfood's review

4.0

Number 3 in this series and a thriller as much as any other. I love the merger of processes in these books that was certainly highlighted here. This was a great conclusion to this saga and would recommend this author in the future. Great page-turner.

#MurderTheory #NetGalley

suspensethrill's review against another edition

5.0

OMFG OMFG OMFG OMFG OMFG OMFG OMFG OMFG OMFG

Holy cliffhanger.

literatiqueen's review against another edition

3.0

I really loved the Naturalist, but reading Murder Theory gave me the same feeling I had when I stopped watching Supernatural during its eleventh season- I of course loved the characters, but most of the original ideas had ran out by that point and truly good episodes were few and far between. This book largely lacked the horror and shock factor that the previous books had. I enjoyed the science components of the book, especially the virology aspect, but even with my background in science it was a bit hard to follow at times.
Listen, I love Theo. I admire his tenacity and conviction, and I always appreciate his steadfast humor. He’s intelligent, but this can easily lead to arrogance and pride. However, he usually does the right thing because his intentions are ultimately good.
But in this book I think he crossed a line that didn’t need to be crossed. Countless lives were saved in the end, but at what cost for Theo? I fear he’s going down a bad path and trading his soul to find these serial killers. There has to be another way.
All in all, this book was simply not as good as the first, or the second, which was a solid sequel to a phenomenal book that honestly probably cannot be beat.

pvn's review against another edition

4.0

I read the first book in the series and rated it highly. I didn't like the second as much. This one was back on track for me. Mayne is a talented writer, and he creates interesting characters and plots. I'll try his other series next. Recommended.

I appreciate the free advanced copy for review!